Alexander Ovechkin - the latest news
(Александр Овечкин - последние известия)
Ru: Александр Овечкин, Sv: Aleksandr Ovetjkin, CS: Alexandr Ovečkin, FI: Aleksandr Ovetškin, FR: Aleksandr Ovetchkine, DE: Alexander Owetschkin
Ovi is getting into optimal shape for 2011/12 season. That's a very delicate process, so if he says he is ready by 70%, that's how it should be.
Nikita Lukyanov from Sport-Express:
How will you assess your readiness for the season?
I am ready by 70 percent. I still have a month and a half to get in the best shape.
Most likely "Russia 2" TV channel will show the NHL games this season. How about that?
I will be happy because all my friends are watching the NHL. They have to look for a broadcast on the Internet.
Thanks to our reader BobbyG's comment: I forgot that Ovi is flying to DC in a few hours, that's why he has to say goodbye to his grandma. And he might get stuck in a Moscow traffic jam for another 4 hours too.
According to Alexander Zhukov, President of Russian Olympic committee, the charity game raised aobut 15 mil rubles or $520,000 (15 Russian rubles = 0.5201 US dollars). The check presented at the game was a bit outdated, it showed 13,000,000.00, I guess, by the time it was made.
You can see Ovi is using CCM stick. Even if he'd sign with Bauer, they wouldn't be able to make custom sticks for him that fast.
Check Russian license plate on Ovi's Brabus
Thanks to Emily and BobbyG for the links, much appreciated.
They are saying that Ovechkin was 6 hours late (originally it was said 4 hours) because of Moscow traffic jam. He was driving from his training facility.
Penguins fitness coach, who was in Moscow this summer to work with Malkin, said that some drivers just leave their cars and go to get coffee. No wonder, 4-6 hours in a traffic jam, you need it. :-)
Here's what Ovi said:
[About singing rap song] You put your cap sideways, wave your hands and that's it.
[About other rapers] They have hot cars, fur coats, blings, I just need my stick, a puck, and I don't need anything else...
Not sure about blings though... I think you have quite a lot of it, Ovi. :-) Oops, how about AMG Black series, Ovi?
Moscow time is 8 hours ahead of ET, so 'From Pure Heart' game starts at 11:30AM ET. There will be 2 periods with 30 minutes for each period, sounds almost like a soccer game. :-)
H/t to our reader Yulina for the link to livetv.ru where the game could be possibly shown.
I don't want to give you a clickable link because I don't want to be responsible if there's a malware...
This is a clip from Russian TV News. There will be 35 players in each team, but there were a lot more who wanted to play.
Ovechkin talks:
The goal is set, the victory is needed. In the last game [last year] we were winning clearly, but then... after all these people were in the other team, it was hard to overcome the impact they had on the refs and organizers. It will all depend how the game will go...
Ovi still can't forget the last year. His team won, but then Medvedev, who played for Kovalchuk team, also KHL's president, talked to refs and additional time was added after which the game ended 13:13. That's so funny that Ovi still remembers it, he wants to win no matter what kind of game it is.
Update:
I found an accurate transcript at sport-express web site...
How was the process of selecting the players?
Kovalchuk: It was very difficult. A lot of people wanted to play, but the locker rooms are not made of rubber. So we had to make a cut. It was not easy to reach to people because many were on vacation. Thanks to the KHL who helped, sent letters to the guys. Because of that Zaripov, Morozov, Mozyakin, Artyukhin, Afinogenov will play... As for the politicians and businessmen, we cut those who go out to play once a year, and instead took those who is involved in hockey on a regular basis.
We called Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Bryzgalov, but they have already flown across the pond. It's my mistake, it was a very short notice. A similar story with Pavel Datsyuk who is taking his daughter to school on September 1st in Yekaterinburg.
The last time you've lost to Kovalchuk team. Are you ready to play just for fun this time?
Ovechkin: No, we want the victory. We won last time, but Ilya had some in his team who made a strong impression on the judges and organizers (laughs).
Did you take part in such charity events over the ocean?
Yes, over there is happens often and proceeds will go to children and soldiers. Only these are not the games, but visits to orphanages and hospitals. It is good that we have the opportunity to help. I have my own organization, which is involved in charity work, including Russia. We send the uniforms to children's athletic schools, recently sent it to Mordovia. We should help, because I have Mordvin blood in my veins (laughs.) Also we recently helped Dynamo's juniors, gave them 108 sets of uniforms. And this is only the beginning.
The game ended 9:7 in the regulation time in favor of team Ovechkin, but it was decided to play another period, which helped the team who was behind to correct the situation. The final score was 13:13. The decisive goal was created by Malkin and Kovalchuk.
Have to say, I've never been Jason Chimera's fan, just like I've never been Semin's fan, but that's what it is about, it's a team of the hockey players trying to reach the common goal... Edmonton Journal, August 29, 2011:
There are critics who maintain that Ovechkin, who is the captain, has to become more vocal in the Capitals dressing room to chew some people out. But Chimera dismisses that notion.
"Ovie is one of the best guys to follow on the ice, watching how he competes. I mean, nobody wants to win a Stanley Cup more than him. I don’t think he has to get on guys’ butts in the dressing room. Collectively, we can do that," said Chimera, who refused to talk about much respected role player Bradley and his recent comment about Semin.
"There’s pressure on all of us to get that championship ring. You don’t have teams with the talent we do ... it doesn’t happen every day, so you have to win. Eventually, this team’s going to get older.
The new style wasn’t an adjustment for me, coming from Columbus, and playing for Hitch (Ken Hitchcock). I fit right in. But for Ovie and Backstrom it was a big difference," says Chimera. "I know there were games where we’d come back from (being down) 5-2 and win 6-5 or rally from 7-2. It was crazy how many goals we could score."
"Getting an experienced goalie like Vokoun (Florida Panthers) after losing Varlamov was huge and we got him for a pretty good price in this market. And Hamrlik? He brings tons of experience," says Chimera.
Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk held a press conference in Moscow about the charity game with the proceed going to orphanage. Ovi jokingly complained that Ilya Kovalchuk always has the better roster because he chooses the players for his team first.
MOSCOW, August 29, 2011, RIA Novosti. The Russian national team's forward Alexander Ovechkin is going to win the charity game vs. Ilya Kovalchuk's team, as he declared it at the RIA Novosti news conference.
"Ilya always does that, he takes the best players, but we will try. Morozov, Zaripov, Zherdev will be on my team, so everything will be fine. The goal is set, the victory is needed. In the last game [last year] we were winning clearly, but then... after all these people were in the other team, it was hard to overcome the impact they had on the refs and organizers. It will all depend how the game will go," said Ovechkin.
Ovechkin noted that he didn't know the exact roster of his team. "I do not know who will be in my team. The most important thing that I'm in there. The rest will be known at the game," he said.
Alex Ovechkin said that the NHL players often participate in charity events, visiting orphanages and hospitals. "Most of the charity events are held in America, we help children and military personnel who had already served. This is a part of our lives priorities because we have the opportunity to help the people in need. If you have a chance, but you do not help, it would be ungrateful. I am very happy when I see the kids and people who smile at you and say thank you," said Ovechkin.
Have you heard about Moscow traffic jams? Alex Ovechkin was 4 hours late while driving from the training facility to the shooting of his first video with rapper Sasha Belyi, reports Paparazzi.ru. Besides Ovi a lot of Russian athletes paticipated in that clip including footballer Prudnikov who is playing for Anji.
"Recently Sasha Belyi let me to listen to his song "Champion" and offered to perform one song's stanza," said Ovechkin. "We met at the studio and that's all happened. I honestly did not expect it would be so cool. I am delighted that Sasha has written a truly sporty rap. I am confident that our message will be heard. Russia has always been a strong sporting nation. We have much to be proud of: our current and future victories, more of them ahead of us."
"The main idea of this track is that every person, if he wants to, can become a champion. First of all, for himself. I think that's all the guys which I list in the recitative, who are now here on the set of our video, they are a true example to follow. I have great respect for these people. I want them to be examples for the kids, seeing how much progress can be achieved in the future, by any of them," said Sasha Belyi.
Ovechkin acknowledged that he likes the process of reading a rap, and he is a fan of rap music. Now he is seriously thinking about recording a solo album.
Ovechkin talked to Pavel Lysenkov after the press conference about the charity game on August 31st. He said that he was flying back to DC on September 1st. Here are some excerpts:
Why so early? Semin goes back to the States on September 8.
This year I've changed the preparation for the season. I have an arrangement with the Capitals fitness coach. Will arrive early to work out at the club. And also need to take care of some business.
Did you feel uncomfortable with your sticks last season? You even used Bauer with covered logo.
It was two years ago. My company actually did produce sticks that would break too often. And we had an agreement with CCM that until they improve their sticks I'd be playing with other company's sticks.
After that you were in a video for the Washington Capitals web site. Everybody was amazed that Ovechkin gained weight in the off-season. You had such a belly there!
It doesn't seem like I have a belly. (Alexander points to his torso) But people started to call me immediately screaming to the phone, "What have you done? Watch the video!" I went online and gasped, "Wow, look at that!" I don't understand how it happened. My hands were swollen there as if after a week-long hangover. My abdomen, my face...
Was it a distorted picture?
Yes, that's how they shot it. And when you're sitting and slouching your belly is bulging.
The video was removed from the Washington Post site.
But still it went all over the internet.
On this video seems like Ovechkin is greeting the crowd with DJ Jeff at Soho rooms in Moscow...
You've got to be a singer or a famous dude like Ovechkin to sing there and make your dream come true... :-)
H/t to BobbyG
On August 27th the members of "Fresh Art" trio David Gevorkov and Alexander Siradekian presented a collection of their new brand "David & Alexander" for Winter 2011-2012.
The guests were entertained by the residents of the Soho Rooms Sergei Jeff, DJ Perets and DJ Fashion, as well as Vyacheslav Petkun, Ilya Lagutenko, Vlad Topalov, Jaroslav Maly, "Degrees" and many others.
"Gone fishing" with limited access to internet, see you Sunday! Post links, pics, info about Ovi, I'll take care of it when I'll be back. When you post your comment, please use Name/URL radio button to enter some kind of nickname, don't be anonymous...
Alex Ovechkin cannot act. What do you expect? The man is a hockey superstar, not the Old Spice guy.
But, strangely, his commercials are so hilarious. It is the way his rich accent swallows his lines as he moves around like a confused kindergartner in a holiday pageant.
And then there is the grin — devilish with the missing tooth— like he is telling you, ‘I can score goals and sell you stuff without trying. No problem! Because I’m Alexander the Great and I’m AWESOME.’
Kovalchuk: We will meet again at the "Sokolniki" arena on August 31st. Besides Ovechkin, Malkin will play too for sure. Also Datsyuk gave his preliminary agreement. We'll invite a lot of guys from the KHL. I think there will be a lot of star players. The fans will not be bored!
Do you think it would be good to invite as the players call Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, Valery Belov and Andrei Nazarov? Someone who coaches the national team?
It is not a bad idea, but there's a little time left to organize the event. In the future I want it to be a tradition, a charity game at the end of the summer. There are a lot of people in Russia, especially children, who need help.
Where the proceeds will go this time?
To the orphanage in Sergiev Posad for deaf & blind children. We will try to raise more than the last year.
This is the first announcement of the charity game "From the pure heart" on Russian TV. The video shows the making of commercial about the charity game with 7 years old Maxim Kabat from juniour CSKA team. The little kid won't play in a charity game though. Kovalchuk says he is training with his fitness coach in a gym and skates for fun with his friends 3 times a week. He says it's a bit strange because he never skated that early in the summer before. Vyacheslav Kozlov (KHL) and Vladimir Zharkov (New Jersey Devils) were on the ice with Kovy.
The question is, where is Ovi? He is totally hiding from the media. Usually at this time of the year Pavel Lysenkov interviews him about his preseason training, this year? Not a word... It's almost like Ovi is not in Moscow, or comes to Moscow on a weekend to make a picture with MainPeople site... hmmm...
Update 8/22/11:
Alex Semin, Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Bryzgalov will also play in a charity game, reports Russian media.
Andrei Voronin, Captain of Moscow Dynamo soccer team and Ovi's friend, came to SOVSPORT.RU office and answered the questions submitted by their readers. It is really interesting to read and it gives some perspective how popular soccer is in the whole world and in Russia in particular. Here are some excerpts from his answers to the readers of sovsport.ru:
Thanks for showing the English style of soccer on the field.
At the moment we are playing the combinational football, which is more similar to Spanish and Italian than to power style of English soccer.
From the style of your game which team would you compare with current Dynamo team and what style appeals to you personally?
I don't want to compare our style to anyone's. Dynamo must have it's own style. Like anyone I am impressed with Barcelona and the Spanish national team style. Over the last 100 years, nobody was better than FC Barcelona, and I am not sure if there ever will be anybody else better than them.
...
Are you a believer?
In a way, yes. There are people who constantly go to church, confess, fast. I'm not entirely like that, but I do go to the church, put a candle and pray to God that all my relatives will be healthy.
How do you refer to the footballers who during Ramadan keep a strict fast, sometimes at the expense of their own game?
I can understand them, they stick to their faith. I have repeatedly seen such cases when I played in Europe. The Ukrainian national team [Voronin is a Ukrainian - tj] once played on the road against Turkey. They had Ramadan, and I think the whole team was fasting. I don't know if they were eating or drinking at all. As a result we beat them 3-0. Whatever you say, but you lose a lot of strength while fasting.
Are you planning to attend Moscow Dynamo hockey games this season?
Until I met Alexander Ovechkin last year, I was not particularly fond of hockey. And now I follow the Washington Capitals and team Russia games.
Does Ovechkin support you?
Yes, Sasha, even when he was in Washington, was sending me text messages at night, "Please annihilate Spartak!" He was at our last game vs Terek and is planning to be at the "Spartak Nalchik" game if he won't have to fly back to Washington. He's rooting for Dynamo bad and he loves football [soccer - tj] in general. Last year he came with his friends to our facility and I saw him playing football. I didn't risk myself to play against him. In general, he is very good considering his weight and height. He didn't want to get injured and at first played goalie. But when his team started to lose, he got out and went on the offense. He also has a very good left kick!
What about you, can you skate?
It's not my business. Once in Germany I went to the rink and fell twice before even getting to the ice. Haven't tried since then yet.
Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk again will host a charity game "from the pure heart" in Moscow on August 31, 2011. This is becoming a tradition, last year the same charity game was played in Moscow on September 5th.
The teams will be formed from some NHLers, KHL players and hockey veterans, as well as the artists and politicians.
All the proceeds will go for children cancer patients in Russia.
Alexander Ovechkin will compete with rapper Sasha Belyi on reading rap. This idea came from Belyi several years ago.
"We've been friends with Alex for a long time," said to "EG" the rapper. "We are both athletes: I am judoka, he is a hockey player. We used to compete in karaoke bars on who would say more words per minute. I joked that he had no teeth, and he joked that he plays hockey. That was the main topic of the humor between us. And then I had an idea. This year I wrote a rap "Champion", which is devoted to Alex.
After Alex Ovechkin came back from his NHL season, he happily agreed to compete with me in reading rap.
Belyi and Bon Ovi
This rap is about Alex and the fact that every child is a champion at heart. I was very surprised how well he was rapping it," marvels Belyi.
"I can rap about 700 words per minute, but how many Sasha can, I do not know. I'll have to check. The video clip is about a young singer Jascha who fell in love with the champion Sasha Ovechkin. The video clip has a happy ending."
Q.: Is Yascha a prototype of the singer Zhanna Friske with whom Ovechkin had an affair?
"Uh," the rapper paused, and laughed. "Who was not in love with him... At the end of the clip Alex is rapping about himself, where each line is flying: "Dynamo's alumni, the eight on his back, he's all-star attraction, the stands are jampacked." It is possible that we could add more of our friends-athletes to the video clip," says Belyi.
Ann Meyers Drysdale, the Phoenix Mercury president and general manager who played on the U.S. team that won the silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, had no trouble remembering the captain of the undefeated Soviet team that easily beat the Americans and won the gold all those years ago.
"She was their starting point guard, and we matched up sometimes," Meyers Drysdale said the other day. "She was a good player, a veteran player, crafty and physical."
Her name was Tatyana Ovechkina, and she wore No. 8. Nine years after the Montreal Olympics, and five years after winning a second gold medal at the boycotted Moscow Games, she gave birth to a son named Alex.
And now here is Great Eight's email to Christine Brennan that he sent from Moscow on Wednesday:
"My mom won two Olympic gold medals by working hard and always pushing herself to be better all the time. She always told me to set big goals and do everything you can to achieve them all the time. I still do that today because I always want to be a better hockey player and person."
Last year Ovi was carousing with Moscow Dynamo footballers so much that one of them Dynamo's Coach Miodrag Božović said half seriously, "When NHL season will start? In October? Ugh. I am looking forward when Ovechkin will go back to train in America..." (correction by our field reporter Emily)
I am pretty sure Ovi and his family talked about the last season and Ovi is back on track. I don't see him partying that much anymore, he got out of his last summer circle of friends, doesn't attend the birthdays, even at his best friend Andrei birthday party he was for only half an hour, he is training, Captain Ovechkin is on the mission.
Matt Bradley had to answer the question to Ottawa's radio station (you know, he is from Ottawa) why the Washington Capitals team was never been able to break through in playoffs...
Matt questioned some work ethics, like some people having questionable injuries and not showing up at the morning skate (no, it was not about Ovi, as you can see below) or in playoffs. He critized Bruce a bit, though understanding why it happened, for playing highly paid players who wouldn't show up in playoffs (insert Backstrom, Green, etc.) instead of blue color guys like Chimera (Nah, wouldn't agree on this guy) And obviously there was an easy target: Alex Semin, he ripped him for his attitude, indifference, etc.
And the next question, as you can imagine, was about Alex Ovechkin
Q.: Is, is, to use a poker term, is Alexander Ovechkin in your opinion, I mean, he is the Captain, is he all-in when it comes to try to win the Stanley Cup in Washington, or is he got some growing and some maturing to do yet?
Matt Bradley: No, I never worry about Ovi, he is all-in guy, he is young, he makes his mistakes, the same as anyone would. I'm also trying to put myself in his position and you gotta remember, he is 25 years old, he's got a guaranted $120 milion, he is on top of the world, and he still for the most part makes the right decisions.
No, I don't worry about him, I don't worry about most of the guys in that team, that's why in the end they'll do well... Ovi has some growing up to do as far as taking care of himself and things like that, but as far as his want to win, he really does just want to win the game... He doesn't care if he scores or not... He is a great guy, great player, I'd never say anything bad about him...
Well, Matt said everything right, but as of Semin...
I've never been a fan of Alex Semin, but following him for all these years I realized that Semin tries really hard to be better, he does care. But his normal state is indifference, he can't break out of it, and it pisses everyone off. It's like asking attention from a person with attention deficit disorder. Yeah, trade him, but what if for short moment somewhere in playoffs he would be able to get out of his state of indifference? That's what GMGM and everybody else is hoping for; because this guy can score GWG in SCF.
Update from Coach Boudreau via TSN:
Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau spoke on TSN 1050 Wednesday and initially declined comment on Bradley's remarks, but answered when pressed on what Semin's response may be.
"He's in Siberia. He may not get [word of] it. I don't know," Boudreau told TSN 1050 of Bradley's comments. "By the time training camp comes around, I think it'll die."
Boudreau agreed with Bradley's talent assessment of Semin.
"He's a great player. I always think he's going to have a 50-goal year, before (the season) starts. He's just so talented," he said.
What is funny, originally they made a typo, instead of "Semin's response" it was "Ovechkin's response." Russian Sport-Express didn't get it, and they translated that "As far as Ovechkin concerned, he is in Siberia now (Что же касается Овечкина, то он сейчас находится в Сибири)."
Here is the latest headline: "The Hockey News has chosen the Washington Capitals as their favorite to win the 2011-12 Stanley Cup".
Obviously we won't stop believing until Stanley Cup will be ours. But here are some thoughts on what should happen for this to happen:
MarJo must center Ovechkin (that is actually not a joke)
Coach Boudreau must get a second volume of "The trap series". The first volume is "How to play it", the second volume is "How to beat it" (Still Tampa Bay must lose in the first round)
Sergei Fedorov's resurrected and will play a puck moving defenseman...
Ovechkin will score Ovechtrick during playoffs run for the first and last time in his career (Just like Gordie Howe his Gordie Howe hat-trick)
The weather forecast for May and June of 2012:
"Lotsa snow in DC on Ovechkin Circle..." (At least more chances than snow in hell, isn't it?)
Hey, don't get mad, I'm just kidding... Let's hope the stars will align and Captain Ovechkin will lead us not into temptation, but deliver the Stanley Cup to DC in June!
Yuri Golyshak of Sport-Express has interviewed HC Traktor's GM Vladimir Krechin and here's what Krechin said about Evgeny (Zhenya) Kuznetsov:
What is the most inportant, Zhenya was cured completely. From time to time he had shoulder separation and played with constant discomfort. A while back in Moscow he had a surgery that was not very successful. We recently sent him to Germany for diagnosis, and then he was operated by the best surgeon who had a waiting list of injured athletes. Evgeny came back in perfect health, had a wedding at the Tractor's hockey arena.
Q.: Did you attend it?
I was out of town. But Alexander Ovechkin came for the wedding. He lived in the same Beryozka hotel where you are staying now. And in the preseason Tractor traveled to Switzerland and we stayed in four-hour drive from the clinic where Kuznetsov was operated. We sent him there to check if everyhing was alright.
Q.: And what were the results?
It turned out that he's doing really well and can start working out in full force.
That's Europe, 4 hour drive and you are in another country (Germany)...
If you’re planning a trip to Moscow this year, make sure your itinerary features a night sipping cocktails and dancing the night away at the newly opened Imperia Lounge. Imperia is the namesake of Russian Standard’s ultra-luxury Imperia Vodka, and just like the vodka, the new venue epitomises opulence; featuring a sumptuous bar, fabulous restaurant and centrepiece dance club surrounded by floor-to-ceiling screens projecting spectacular graphics and videos onto the dancefloor.
Russian MainPeople site reports:
On August 12 Imperia Lounge was tranformed to the coldest point on earth, the Arctic. On this night the guests could enjoy the coolness in the heat of the hot summer. Of course there were meetings with the polar bears because they live exclusively in the Arctic and Arctic regions of some countries. These fluffy white animals not only warmed the guests of Imperia Lounge with their fur, but also treated them with cocktails made with Arctic ice. For thousands of years the Arctic ice kept its pristine purity to end up in a glasses of our guests.
August 13, 2011. Imperia Lounge, Moscow
On Saturday, August 13, the Ice Holiday continued to gain momentum and the guests of Imperia Lounge were transported to Antarctica. Antarctica is the world's natural reserve. The vast expanses of white, gigantic blue-white ice blocks of bizarre shapes; this is an amazing beauty of Antarctica!
The guests of "Antarctica" had a unique opportunity to drink a warming whiskey on the rocks with a purest ice from the iceberg, whose age can be sometimes of millions years old.
Meanwhile the KHL exhibition games already started in Russia and here is, according to HotIce.ru, the cruelest fight ever in Russian history! (8/15/2011: Самая жестокая драка в истории России. Лапенков - Рябыкин.)
"Be big deal like me..." says Ovi and he looks slim enough. But everything must be in moderation, look what happened to Ovi after he ate those candy bars during the last month... :-)
Alexander Semin finally presents the stick with his and Ovechkin's autographs to a woman who's the winner of the project "Name the ice arena!" in Krasnoyarsk. She in turn gives a stick (Bauer!) to a kid on the left. Everybody's happy, Semin is still in Krasnoyarsk enjoying Siberian summer.
The question is, where is Ovi? Is he training in undisclosed location? (St. Petersburg maybe?) Because it is clear he is not in Moscow. The same day Alex Semin was doing his gift presentation, Moscow Dynamo was meeting with their fans. Ovechkin was nowhere to be seen. Is he still Dynamo's President Mikhail Tyurkin consultant?
Update from our reader Yulina (According to some anonymous sources, the pictures came from sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com):
The Official blog for the Detroit Red Wings held a dream team contest. Alex Ovechkin, not Red Wings Pavel Datsyuk, Penguins Sidney Crosby or Lighting Steven Stamkos, was present in about all 300 Dream Teams submitted!
When we opened up our ‘Dream Team’ concept last week, we knew our fans would come up with talent-laden rosters that would compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup .
Still, your support was overwhelming.
Some ‘300 Dream Teams’ have been narrowed down a select few, with brownie points given to taking a unique approach. We had a team based around a favorite player, a club of All-European players, award winners, 50-point scorers and more.
You know, there were recent articles like "8 Reasons Why Alexander Ovechkin Is the Greatest Hockey Player in the World" or "10 hardest-hitting players of all-time" where Ovechkin was in the list. Not that I disagree with them, not at all, it's just both articles were written by a single writer, and everyone deserves their own opinion. But when Alex Ovechkin is chosen by 300 hockey fans/experts outside Washington Capitals fans area, that is impressive!
Buy CCM's Ovechkin Streetwear now, before it's too late!
Our field reporter Emily has some news for you, Alex Semin fans!
On August 13 Alexander Semin will present the winner of the project "Name the ice arena!" with a hockey stick. The stick is autographed by Alexander Semin and Alexander Ovechkin.
The hockey arena built in Krasnoyarsk will be named "Arena.North". The name was chosen by the resident of Dnipropetrovsk Ekaterina Kovaleva who will fly to Krasnoyarsk on this occasion.
As it turned out, Ekaterina had never been in Krasnoyarsk, but a couple of years ago met the hockey player Alexander Semin and learned from him about the city on the Yenisei River. She also didn't know at that time who Alexander Semin was.
Reporting live,
This is Emily
Now back in the studio...
Where do you think they met? Turkey or Washington, DC?
We need live pictures of Alex Semin from that event. Please have your camera ready, Emily!!
Andrei Grigoriev-Apollonov, a singer, an actor and a showman from the Ivanushki band, celebrated his 41st Birthday at Casino restaurant in Moscow on August 9, 2011.
Starting from eight o'clock in the evening, Andrei, together with the beautiful wife and two sons, was greeting his birthday guests. Despite the summer vacation time, a lot of capital's renowned celebrities came to congratulate the Ivanushki's Red Head.
That evening the fun at Casino restaurant lasted until late at night, and everyone knows how Grigoriev-Apollonov can party. The sea of smiles, a river of champagne and a huge "red" cake, Happy birthday, Andrei!
Update:
Turned out Ovi was at the birthday party for only 30 minutes, as reported by KP.RU. Sounds like he is really on the mission, training hard for the upcoming season.
Look at this cake!
Viva our reader BobbyG for the link!
Was it last year when Ovi was at Andrei's party and someone presented Andrei with live red head lamb?
I was looking at Mike Green's (@GreenLife52) photos and found this:
Mike Green:
Getting worked on by @yourDrG laying on the chi mat right now feels like pins and needles. Oddly very relaxing.
Wait a minute, I know it was produced in Russia long time ago.
I went to @yourDrG web site and found this video and the list of Capitals players who use it: Mike Green, Niklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. So Dr. Green got it from Henrik Zettenberg, but not a word how chi-mat got to Sweden...
Another YouTube video had it:
A mat like this was first developed and tested in Russia in the 1970s with huge success in treatment of many kinds of disorders and has morphed into what it is now.
Seventy millions sold in former in USSR and major interest throughout the world proves that medical utensil IPLICATOR (known in the world as Miracle hedgehog, Akumat, Spikmatta, Shakti spikmatta, Yantra Mat, Panacea-tools, Nadelreizmatten, The Prickly Pad, Akupressurmattan, Shaktimatte and so on) helps to eliminate many medical problems very successfully.
Originally it was invented in Moscow by I. Kuznetsov, combining the two methods in it, acupressure and acupuncture. Kuznetsov received the USSR patent (№ 791 378) called "The method and device for increasing human's efficiency." But his original device had spike flowers made of metal (ouch!). The next step was to change it to plastic acupressure flowers (Russian web site claims they made the next step) and that was it.
I bet Kuznetsov lives in poverty, he should've patent it in US!
Since it was developed by Ovi's fellow countryman from Moscow, let's call it Ovi-mat. :-)
Here are bunch of Ovi-mats on Amazon.com:
HIMALAYA ACUPRESSURE MAT/ Bed of nails (THE ORIGINAL)
Acupressure Mat Spike Body Mat
RelaxAmat Acupuncture Yoga Shakti Acupressure Spike Mat
Heavenly Acupressure Mat
Acupuncture Mat
Halsa Wellness Acupressure Mat
Shakti Mat- The Original
Bed of Nails 1919 Mat
HIMALAYA ACUPRESSURE MAT:
AWARDED AMAZON TOP HOLIDAY SELLER 2010!!!The Swedish Russian Wellness Sensation now in the US. Lie down on its 8,820 Acupressure points and feel revitalized.
What are you waiting for? Order it here, order it now.
Ovechkin was spotted at a suburban golf club in Nakhabino where radio station "Silver rain" celebrated it's 16th anniversary.
Mago is there... I think Mago is a bodyguard, he is always around.
No beer for Ovi for now, even on Saturday.
Photos by Anna Bychenkova
Utro.ru, Anna Bychenkova:
The richest hockey player of the world spends his summer in Moscow. Paparazzi have often caught Alexander Ovechkin at parties, social events and restaurants in the capital. This Saturday 25-year-old athlete came to a suburban golf club for 16th anniversary of radio station "Silver rain". Hockey player came to the event alone. "Yes, today I am alone," he told to "Ytro.ru" with sadness in his voice. One of the most eligible bachelors in Russia seems desperate to find love. Before the show started on the stage, set on the picturesque shore of the pond, somber Ovechkin left the event.
LOL.
Update from kleo.ru
Despite the cloudless sky, the "silver rain" still happened, the organizers attached sprinklers to the trees 7 feet high.
Alexander Ovechkin wondered why he needed an umbrella, until he passed through the VIP-entrance. After the unexpected "shower" Sasha refused to pose for picture. He ran to the river to bask in the rays of the setting sun.
Update from glomu.ru:
The rumor was spread that under one the patio umbrellas was hockey player Alexander Ovechkin. We found him on the shore of the local pond near the cocktail party tables. The hockey player thoughtfully contemplated the sunset, ignoring the kebabs, sausages, vegetables, herbs and other picnic joy.
"Is it possible that you won't take my pictures?" began to flirt the NHL star when he saw the photographer with camera. "Well, let's take my pictures," agreed the photographer.
This idea seemed so funny to a hockey player, that he withdrew all his objections.
Say 'cheese' (Photo by Ekaterina Chesnokova). How's that torso?
On December 17, 2009 Alexander Ovechkin had a two-hour autograph session at the Vancouver Olympic Superstore. Sasha started taking his jersey off to exchange it with the captain of North Vancouver junior hockey team and to the delight of fans accidentally snagged his t-shirt...
Oh, he's so hot! He's potbellied so even his boxers slipped down! But don't be fooled, this is not fat. It's the height of the hockey season and I think Alexander just gained the necessary muscle mass. For the Olympics he needs to be in optimum physical shape by the hockey standards.
I love the figure shapes of hockey players, especially their plump rears and pumped legs! No wonder they say that only real men play hockey, isn't it true?
LOL.
Just to remind, Ovi's weight in 2009/10 season: 233 lbs.
This CCM Ovechkin streetwear won't be available soon, hurry up!
"He's like the shark in Jaws, circling in the water waiting for blood. They should play that music from the movie – da-duh, da-duh, da-duh - when he's out on a shift. He doesn't just go after loose pucks, he hunts them down."
~John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues.
Blog o Alexovi, psaný anglicky, je vážně kvalitní a aktuální
Just wanted to thank you for posting my book on your blog, which I consulted a fair bit while researching and writing the book. In particular, the comprehensive list of links on alexovetjkin.blogspot.com is the best library on Ovechkin material available anywhere.
Regards,
Geoffrey Lansdell
"The fan blog Alex Ovetjkin does a fine job of tracking all things OV on a daily basis..."
Stu Hackel, Slap Shot The New York Times hockey blog
"Your work on the Ovechkin and Semin interviews was wonderful, and both are just great reads. Thanks for the time and effort..."
Greg Wyshynski Editor - Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports Blogs The Bill Murray Award -- For Outstanding Work From a Bilingual
Nominees: On Frozen Blog, The Alex Ovetjkin Blog
Winner: The Alex Ovetjkin Blog has seriously upped its game over the last twelve months and they continue to be the offseason's premier blog for info on our Russian players. OFB has the connections, but The AO Blog has the heart. Tic Tac Toe Hockey
"If you don’t read “Alex Ovetjkin,” you’re missing out on information on the Caps’ star forward that you probably won’t find in other places." The Peerless Prognosticator
"Alex Ovetjkin: This is a very cool blog, all Alex Ovechkin. If you are a Caps fan it is a good read. If you are a Alex Ovechkin fan, it is a must read. This is one of the best sources to track Ovechkin! Link partner of DCPSR! Rank: * * * * * DC Pro Sports Report
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